Page 12 of The Bound Mage
To Araya’s surprise, El chattered on without hesitation. “Finn’s still in the New Dominion of course, but he’s always the mediator,” she said, grinning. “If there’s any conflict, you can bethe’ll be the one smoothing things over. But Nyra was probably the root of the problem in the first place.”
El rolled her eyes, shaking her head with a small smile. “She goes back and forth the most. She’ll set sail for the New Dominion with tonight’s tide now that her boat is repaired. I don’t envy her. It’s bad enough to sail through the Veil, but to do it at midnight?” El shuddered dramatically.
Midnight tonight. Araya couldn’t help how her heart skipped a beat in her chest, but she kept her breathing even, willing her body not to give her away. That was it—her chance. She just had to find a way to take it.
“Will Thorne go back with her?” Araya asked, struggling to keep her voice even.
“Not this time,” El said. “He’s staying—for Loren. They grew up together, you know. They’re practically brothers. Thorne has never forgiven himself for not being there when the Arcanum took the Aetherium.”
“He was at the Aetherium?” Araya frowned. “But…he’s part-human.”
“Oh, he’s half and half,” El said, waving a hand like it made no difference at all. “His father King Corwin’s commander at arms and his mother was a human Healer. She was close friends with the queen, actually. Thorne was raised alongside Loren, taught by the same masters.” She leaned back, her expression softening. “I doubt there’s anyone Loren trusts more.”
Araya stared at her, trying to reconcile the words with the history she’d grown up with. The Arcanum had only overthrown the fae monarchy because they hoarded magic, refusing to share it with humans. The idea that a half-human could have walked the halls of the Aetherium and trained alongside fae royalty—it just couldn’t be possible.
“Could one half-fae really have changed anything?” she asked quietly.
“There’s no way to know, is there?” El’s eyes turned distant, her gaze fixed on the crackling flames. “But should haves and could haves haunt us all.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke. But then El leaned forward, resting her hand lightly on top of Araya’s. “We’re all very grateful to you for bringing Loren back to us, you know.”
“Oh—” Araya coughed, pulling her hand back. “I didn’t really do anything…”
“You were the one who got Serafina in to see him. And you removed the collar.” El cocked her head, frowning. “Without that, none of this could have happened.”
Araya had no argument for that. She twisted her hands in her lap, rubbing her thumb absently over the rune inked on her skin. “I didn’t know Serafina was involved in smuggling fae out of the New Dominion,” she admitted. “I just… didn’t think anyone should be in that much pain.”
Not even rude, inconsiderate fae princes.
El studied her for a long moment. “You’re angry at him, aren’t you? For bringing you here?”
Araya’s breath hitched, her fingers tightening slightly.
“It’s hard not to be when he tore me away from everything I knew. I had a life there—a life I worked hard for.” She had to force the next words out past the lump in her throat. “He took that away from me without even asking what I wanted.”
“That must be terrifying,” El murmured. “I’m sure he felt like he didn’t have a choice. He was a good male—before. I think he still is, underneath it all, even if he’s struggling.”
“You knew him before?”
“He’s older than me, but yes—I did.” El’s smile turned wistful, almost sad. “He was kind. The sort of male who would have made a good king.” Her gaze lingered on the fire, shadows dancing across her face. “Maybe he still will—if the right people stand beside him.”
Araya swallowed, something unsteady twisting in her stomach. “Do you think he’ll let me leave?”
El glanced away, for the first time seeming to lack an easy answer. “I think if it were up to him, he’d let you do whatever you wanted,” she said finally. “But a crown isn’t just a piece of metal. It’s a promise—and sometimes we’re forced to keep that promise, even when it hurts the people we love.”
“Loren doesn’t love me.” Araya almost laughed.
“Maybe, maybe not.” El shrugged. “I just hope you can find a way to forgive him. I know he didn’t handle things well. But he isn’t heartless. He’d redeem himself—if you gave him the chance.”
“I don’t know if I care about his redemption,” Araya admitted. “I just want to go home.”
El smiled sadly. “I can understand that.”
They sat in silence for a moment, until El stood, shaking out her skirts like she could shake off the dark mood that had settled over the room. She lifted the dress from its hanger, holding it out.
“We should get you ready for dinner now,” she said, her voice forcedly light. “My reputation couldn’t bear it if you looked anything less than stunning.”
Araya hesitated, her fingers brushing the edge of the gossamer fabric. “I’m not trying to impress anyone.”
